Geranium plant `Designer Light Pink`

ABSTRACT

Geranium Designer Series™ Light Pink (BFP-174) is a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum Bailey, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Designer Light Pink. Designer Light Pink was selected from among the progeny of a cross between female parent Romance and PAS-W. The new cultivar is distinguishable from other geraniums and from both parents in not requiring a growth regulator for self-branching.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

Designer Light Pink is a product of a planned breeding program which hadthe objective of creating new Geranium cultivars with medium greenfoliage, large round umbels, good weather tolerance, self branchingcharacteristics without use of growth regulators, fast rooting and goodshipping qualities.

Designer Light Pink was originated from a hybridization made in acontrolled breeding program in West Chicago, Ill. The female parent wasRomance, which has a semi-double light pink flower and medium greenfoliage. Romance is a European variety which has tetraploid ploidy andmedium umbel size. The male parent of Designer Light Pink was PAS-W, asemi-double white tetraploid seedling with light green foliage. PAS-W istetraploid and has large umbel size. Shipping characteristics are poor.PAS-W is a nonprotected plant. By comparison with the parents, DesignerLight Pink is tetraploid, has large umbel size, good weather toleranceand stable chlorophyll (advantageous in shipping).

Designer Light Pink was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor in a controlledenvironment in Santa Maria, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Designer Light Pink wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in a controlled environment in Santa Maria, Calif. by atechnician supervised by the inventor. Horticultural examination ofselected units demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Designer Light Pink are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Designer Light Pink has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength. The following observations, measurements and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Arroyo Grande, Calif. under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Designer Light Pink which in combinationdistinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar. No growthregulators are required to obtain self-branching plants, days to firstflower in greenhouse is 47.3 days from unrooted direct stuck cuttings,plant height at first flower in greenhouse is 22.9 cm, and plant widthat first flower in greenhouse is 33.0 cm.

Of the many conventional cultivars known to the present inventor, themost similar in comparison to Designer Light Pink is Precious (patentpending). Designer Light Pink and Precious are both generally lightlavender color but Designer Light Pink differs in color tone, hasnon-imbricated petals, is more floriforous and, in contrast to Precious,has non-shattering flowers when grown under field conditions. DesignerLight Pink exhibits basal branching without pinching. Precious bycomparison has less basal branching characteristics and a more upright,non-mounding habit than Designer Light Pink. The petaloids of DesignerLight Pink are larger than those of Precious, some as large as 2.1×1.4cm. Precious has 7-8 large petals and small petaloids. Designer LightPink has shatter resistance and is more tolerant to shipping, asindicated by less chlorophyll breakdown than Precious. There are alsoother differences between the two plants, such as differences in budshape, average umbel diameter and number of umbels per plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographs show a top view of the typical flowerand foliage characteristics of Designer Light Pink.

The view taken against a dark background illustrates flower colorclosest to the color values assigned from The Royal HorticulturalSociety Color Chart.

The view taken against a light background highlights the leafcharacteristics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Nov. 10, 1992 under 550 foot candles atArroyo Grande, Calif. USA.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum Bailey.

Commercial.--Designer Light Pink, Zonal Geranium.

INFLORESCENCE

Umbel:

Average diameter.--9.5-10.0 cm.

Average depth.--6.5-7.0 cm.

Peduncle length.--20-22 cm.

Pedicel length.--3.0-3.3 cm.

Number umbels/plant.--18-20 on 18 week old field grown plant.

Number of flowers/umbel.--24-26.

Corolla:

Average diameter.--4.5-4.7 cm.

Form.--Semi-double.

Number of petaloids.--0-2.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Lightlavender 65B.

Description of petal form.--Non-imbricate.

Color (abaxial).--65B at margin; 65D at center.

Color (adaxial).--65D.

Petal size.--Length: 2.5-2.7 cm. Width: 1.9-2.5 cm.

Number of petals.--5 (non-imbricate).

Bud:

Shape.--Oval-pointed.

Color (abaxial).--65A.

Color (adaxial).--65D.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--7-9. 8 mm anther/filaments. 1.5-22 mm anther. 53A.

Gynoecium.--7 mm, 5 lobed stigma, 2.5-3 mm style.

Presence or absence of fruits.--Set fruits.

Spring flowering response period: 7-8 weeks from unrooted cuttings.

Outdoor flower production: Very floriforous non-shattering.

Durability: No weather tolerance claimed.

Shatter resistance.--Flowers resistant to shatter.

Shipping tolerance.--Stable chlorophyll.

PLANT

Foliage:

Size (mature foliage).--8.0-8.5 cm at widest point; 5.0-5.5 cm atnarrowest point.

Leaf stem (pedicles).--5.0-6.5 cm.

Form.--Reniform, cordate.

Margin.--Crenate.

Color (abaxial).--137A margin. 137B center/base.

Color (adaxial).--137C.

Color (zonation).--Slight.

Resistance to botrytis.--Fair.

General appearance and form:

Internode length.--1.0-1.3 cm.

Branching pattern.--Basal branching mounded habit.

Number of branches.--2-3 branches in a 10 cm pot.

Height.--22.86 cm on 18 week old field grown plants.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Geranium cultivar,substantially as herein described and shown, characterized by itspink-lavender color, mounded habit and non-shattering flower petals.